Analysis of phytocannabinoids in cosmetic creams by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry

Cannabis cosmetics currently represent a significant part of the legal hemp product market. Preliminary studies have shown the potential therapeutic effects of cannabinoids when administered to the skin, leading to a surge in popularity of cannabis creams, often marketed for their analgesic, anti-inflammatory, or moisturising properties. This has resulted in a greater need for analytical methods used for product quality control and the regulation of prohibited cannabinoids. Although validated analytical methods for hydrophobic cosmetics have been previously presented, the analysis of two-phase systems (oil-in-water creams and their water-in-oil counterparts) has proven challenging because of the high variability in the chemical composition of the different matrices. The main objective of this study was to develop and validate a comprehensive cream extraction method that is compatible with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and applicable to a wide range of creams. Our study showed that a separate extraction method was necessary for the two main cream types. While water-in-oil creams could be simply diluted and analysed, we observed that the emulsifiers used in their oil-in-water counterparts caused significant matrix effects, which impacted the quantitative analysis when a mass spectrometer was used. To eliminate these effects, a solid-phase extraction method was optimised, resulting in cleaner extracts and higher precision and accuracy of the analysis. Both extraction methods were validated and subsequently used to determine the levels of major cannabinoids in cosmetic creams purchased on the Czech market.

 

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Publication History

Article published online:
16 November 2023